• Journal of the Korean Society of Tobacco Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.168-195
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• 1992

Pulmonary system is a target organ and primary defense mechanism against environmental oxidants and polutants. Enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxdant defense mechanisms undoubtedly protect the lung from oxidants even endogenous oxidative stress. In addition, new ways of augmenting pulmonary antioxidant defenses are developed, which can be used to support the intrinsic antioxidants. Therefore, improved understanding of antioxidant defense mechanisms will increase our knowledge of the cause and will suggest rational approaches for treating and preventing oxidant-induced lung injury. In this review, we discuss the formation and scavenging of free radicals, and the strategies for antioxidant defense of pulmonary system.

• Natural Product Sciences
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• v.10 no.6
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• pp.296-301
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• 2004

Previously, a flavonoid fraction, which consisted mainly of protocatechuic acid, fustin, fisetin, sulfuretin, and butein, here named RCMF $({\underline{R}}VS\;{\underline{c}}hloroform-{\underline{m}}ethanol\;{\underline{f}}raction)$, was prepared from a crude acetone extract of Rhus verniciflua Stokes (RVS) which is traditionally used as a food additive and as an herbal medicine. In this study, we evaluated the effects of RCMF on the antioxidant defense system using embryonic normal hepatic cell line (BNL CL.2) and its SV40-mediated transformed cell line (BNL SV A.8). This study demonstrates that RCMF selectively stimulated the antioxidant defense system of normal cells, as BNL CL.2 cells proved to be more sensitive to RCMF-mediated increases of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione, and glutathione reductase than BNL SV A.8 cells. In particular, RCMF caused a significant increase in the malonaldehyde content of BNL SV A.8 cells, which is believed to be closely associated with cytotoxicity of RCMF and RCMF-mediated growth inhibition. Collectively, our findings suggest that the flavonoid fraction, RCMF, selectively stimulates the antioxidant defense system in normal rather than hepatic tumor cells.

• International Journal of Industrial Entomology and Biomaterials
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.95-100
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• 2011

The effect of diet supplementation of Antheraea pernyi (A. pernyi) silk fibroin on the lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense status in high fat-fed mice was investigated. The animals were given normal control diet (NC group), high fat diet (HF group), or high fat diet supplemented with A. pernyi silk fibroin powder (HFS group) for 7 weeks. After the experimental period, the HF group showed significant increase in body weight, plasma and hepatic total cholesterol levels, and hepatic triglyceride concentration, and decreased activities of hepatic antioxidant enzymes relative to NC group. However, the HFS group exhibited marked reduction in body weight, plasma cholesterol and hepatic triglyceride levels, hepatic lipogenic enzyme activities, and lipid peroxidation rate, and higher high-density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol level, fecal triglyceride content, and antioxidant enzymes activities compared with that of HF group. These findings demonstrate that dietary feeding of A. pernyi silk fibroin could improve the lipid metabolism and antioxidant defense system via regulation of hepatic antioxidant and lipogenic enzymes activities. Hence, this silk fibroin may be beneficial as a functional biomaterial for the development of therapeutic agent against high fat diet-induced hyperlipidemia and its related diseases.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.121-134
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this in vivo study is to observe anti-amnesic effects of Yeongkyekamjotanggayonggolmoryo (YGYM), a novel mixed herbal prescription, Ossis Mastodi and Ostreae Testa added Yeongkyekamjo-tang, on scopolamine induced amnesia in C57BL/6 mice through acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expression, and antioxidant effects. Methods: Six groups, total 20 intact or 100 Sco treated mice were used in this study after one week of acclimatization period. Half the animals were used for passive avoidance task tests and hippocampus ACh content, AChE activity, and ChAT mRNA expression were measured. The other half was subjected to an underwater maze test and then the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense system was measured. Results: In the passive avoidance experiment, there was significant decrease in residence time in the bright room and in the underwater maze test, escape latency to escape from the esophagus significantly increased compared with the normal control group. At the final sacrifice, ACh content and ChAT mRNA expression decreased, AChE activity increased, and cerebral cortical MDA increased GSH content, SOD and CAT activity in Sco control mice, as compared to intact vehicle control mice. However, these Sco treatment-related memory loss through AChE activation destroyed the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense system, and was inhibited dose-dependently by 28 days consecutive oral pretreatments of YGYM extracts 500, 250, 125 mg/kg. Conclusions: In the above results, YGYM extract that oral administration of YGYM extracts alleviates the antioxidant defense system, through preservation of ACh mediated by upregulation of ChAT mRNA expression, and increase of AChE inhibition and brain antioxidant defense systems.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.23-35
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• 2016

Objectives: The objective of this study is to demonstrate the cardioprotective effects of Salvia Miltiorrhiza Radix (SMR) on the pressure overload (PO)-induced heart failure (HF) by transverse aortic constriction (TAC) in C57BL/6 mice through possible antioxidant effects. Methods: The mortality, body and heart weights, antioxidant defense system of the heart and histopathology of heart were analyzed. The obtained results were compared with resveratrol, in which potent cardioprotective effects on TAC mice model were already proved at a dose level of 10 mg/kg by antioxidant effects, as reference in this experiment. Results: Significant increases of mortalities, heart weights, and hypertrophic, lytic and focal fibrotic histological changes in the left ventricles were found with defects of heart antioxidant defense systems - the increases of heart cortex MDA contents, decreases of GSH contents, SOD and CAT activities in TAC control mice as compared with sham vehicle control mice, respectively. However, these HF signs induced by TAC surgery through PO and destroys heart antioxidant defense systems were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited by 14 days continuous oral treatment of SMR 500, 250 and 125 mg/kg, similar to those of resveratrol 10 mg/kg in SMR 125 mg/kg. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study propose that oral administration of SMR potently alleviates PO-induced HF by TAC, through augmentation of heart antioxidant defense system.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.207-221
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• 2018

Objectives: The objective of this study was to observe the anti-amnesic effects of Yukmijihwang-tang (YMJHT), on the scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory impairment in C57BL/6 mice through its favorable acetylcholine (ACh). Also, to observe acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expressions, and antioxidant effect. Methods: Six groups, with a total of 20 normal and 100 Sco treated mice were selected based on their body weights after 1 week of acclimatization, were used in this study as follows. Half of the mice in each group were used for passive avoidance task tests and hippocampus ACh content, AChE activity and ChAT mRNA expression measurement, and the remaining half in each group used for Morris water maze test and measurement of cerebral antioxidant defense system. Results: Amnesia due to AChE activations and destroyed cerebral cortex antioxidant defense systems were markedly and dose-dependently inhibited after 28 days of continuous oral pre-treatment with YMJHT 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg, respectively. The overall effects of YMJHT 400 mg/kg were similar to those of tacrine 10 mg/kg. Conclusions: Based on the results, it was established that oral administration of YMJHT favorably alleviates Sco-induced memory impairment, through preservation of ACh, mediated by up-regulation of ChAT mRNA expressions and related AChE inhibition and augmentation of cerebral antioxidant defense system, at least in a condition of this experiment. The overall effects of YMJHT 400 mg/kg were similar to those of tacrine 10 mg/kg.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.877-890
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• 2017

Objectives: Lonicerae flos (LF), a dried flower part of Lonicera japonica Thunb., has been widely used in Korean medicine as anti-inflammatory and antioxidative agent. The purpose of this study was to determine the cardioprotective effects of LF, through potential antioxidant effects, on the pressure overload (PO)-induced heart failure (HF) in C57BL/6 mice after transverse aortic constriction (TAC) surgery. Methods: Resveratrol (10 mg/kg body weight) or LF (125, 250 or 500 mg/kg body weight) was orally administered, once daily for 14 days, starting 14 days after TAC surgery. Changes in the mortality, body weights, heart weights, histopathology of the heart, and antioxidant defense systems of the heart were analyzed. Results: Marked and noticeable increases of heart weights, mortalities, and hypertrophic, focal, and lytic fibrotic histological changes in the LVs were observed, with destruction of heart antioxidant defense systems after surgery. However, HF signs, induced by TAC surgery through PO, and destruction of heart antioxidant defense systems were significantly and dose-dependently inhibited by 14 days of maintained oral treatment with LF 500, 250 or 125 mg/kg. Treatment with 250 mg/kg LF was comparable to treatment with 10 mg/kg resveratrol. Conclusions: The results in this study suggest that oral administration of LF favorably relieves PO-induced HF following TAC, through increase of heart antioxidant defense systems. The overall effects of 250 mg/kg LF were similar to those of 10 mg/kg resveratrol. More detailed mechanistic studies should be conducted in the future, with screening of the biologically active compounds in LF.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

The present study examined the effects of consumption of Jeju ground water containing vanadium components on oxidative stress in obese (ob/ob) mice. Intake of Jeju ground water decreased the generation of oxidative stress induced-lipid peroxidation in the liver of ob/ob mice It also enhanced the enzymatic antioxidant defense system by increasing the protein expression and activity of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione peroxidase in liver tissues. Jeju ground water intake also upregulated the intracellular content of reduced glutathione. The induction of antioxidant enzyme expression by consumption of Jeju ground water was mediated by the erythroid transcription factor NF-E2 (Nrf2). Increased nuclear expression of phospho Nrf2 was observed in ob/ob mouse liver cells following ntake of Jeju ground water. These results suggest that consumption of Jeju ground water stimulated the antioxidant defense system in the livers of ob/ob mice via induction of Nrf2.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.123-136
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• 2017

Objectives: The objective of this study is to investigate the anti-amnesic effects of AR, Aucklandiae Radix, ground powder on scopolamine (Sco)-induced memory impairment in mice (C57BL/6) through its favorable acetylcholine (ACh) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity, Choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) mRNA expression, and antioxidant effect. Methods: Six groups, a total of 20 intact or 100 Sco treated mice, were selected based on their body weights and were used in this study. Half of the mice in each group were used for the passive avoidance task test and the measurements of hippocampus ACh content, AChE activity and ChAT mRNA expression. The remaining half of the mice in each group were used for the Morris water maze test and cerebral antioxidant defense system measurement. Results: Marked decreases in step-through latency times in the passive avoidance task test and increases in escape latency times in the Morris water maze test were observed with decreases in the hippocampus ACh content and ChAT mRNA expression, and increases in the hippocampal AChE activities, as a result of Sco intraperitoneal treatment, in the present study. In addition, destruction of the cerebral cortex antioxidant defense systems was observed in Sco control mice as compared with intact vehicle control mice. However, 28 days of continuous oral pre-treatment with AR ground powder at doses of 400, 200 and 100 mg/kg markedly and dose-dependently inhibited the Sco treatment-related amnesia. Conclusions: The results prove that oral administration of AR ground powder reduces Sco-induced memory impairment. This is because it can preserve ACh, related to ChAT mRNA expression, cause AChE inhibition, and activate the cerebral antioxidant defense system.

• Toxicological Research
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• v.17
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• pp.299-304
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• 2001

Xenobiotics and their reactive intermediates bind to cellular macromolecules and/or generate oxidative stress. which provoke deleterious effects on the cell function. Induction of xenobiotic-biotrans-forming enzymes and antioxidant molecules is an important defense mechanism against such insults. A group of genes involved in the defense mechanism. e.g. genes encoding glutathione S-transferases. NAD(P)H: quinone oxidoreductase, UDP-glucuronosyltransferase (UDP-GT) and ${\gamma}$-glutamylcysteine synthetase (GGCS). have a common regulatory sequence, Antioxidant or Electrophile Responsive Element (ARE/EpRE). Recently. Nrf2. discovered as a homologue of erythroid transcription factor p45 NF-E2, was shown to bind ARE/EpRE and induce the expression of these defense genes. Mice that lack Nrf2 show low basal levels of expression and/or impaired induction of these genes. which makes the animals highly sensitive to xenobiotic toxicity. Indeed. we show here that nrf2-deficient mice had a higher mortality than did the wild-type mice when exposed to acetaminophen (APAP). Detailed analyses of APAP hepatotoxicity in the nrf2 knockout mice indicate that a large amount of reactive APAP metabolites was generated in the livers due to the impaired basal expression of two detoxifying enzyme genes, UDP-GT (Ugt1a6) and GGCS. while the cytochrome P450 content was unchanged. Thus. the studies using the nrf2 knockout mice clearly demonstrate significance of the expression of Nrf2-regulated enzymes in protection against xenobiotic toxicity.